Inflatable device

ABSTRACT

A reinforced inflatable element is provided with longitudinally and circumferentially extending members with means supporting such members for movement outwardly as the inflatable element is inflated and for movement inwardly as the inflatable element is deflated. Projection means are provided on the members for engaging a tubular member when the device is inflated for deforming such tubular member, for piercing such tubular member, and for performing other operations as may be desired on the tubular member.

United States Patent Malone et a1.

1 Nov. 25, 1975 INFLATABLE DEVICE Billy C. Malone; Floyd A. Halbardier, both of Houston, Tex.

Lynes, Inc., Houston, Tex.

Filed: Sept. 6, 1974 Appl. No.: 503,848

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 315,028, Dec. 14,

Inventors:

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 72/59; 61/5368; 72/370; 72/385; 72/393; 166/212 Int. Cl. B21D 15/06 Field of Search 285/106, 109, 306, 114; 166/120, 212, 243; 294/8615, 86.19, 86.24; 138/93; 113/120 AA; 61/5368; 274/2 A, 4; 72/57, 58,59, 432, 385, 370, 431, 453, 393

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1942 Cuthill 294/8615 2,674,199 4/1954 Page 166/212 3,085,627 4/1963 Sodich 166/212 3,197,967 8/1965 Corfield... 61/5368 3,604,732 9/1971 Malone 285/106 3,797,255 2/1973 Kammerer 61/5368 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,034,128 6/1966 United Kingdom 61/5368 Primary ExaminerDave W. Arola Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jack W. Hayden [57] ABSTRACT 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US" Patent Nov.25, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,921,427

INFLATABLE DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present invention is one form of device which may be employed in performing the invention disclosed and claimed in the application of Archer W. Kammerer, .Ir., for Method for Anchoring Piling filed on Dec. I3, I97], and bearing U.S. Ser. No. 207,145, and disclosed and claimed in the application of Archer W. Kammerer, Jr., for Method for Insitu Anchoring Piling filed on Dec. 13, l97l, and bearing US. Ser. No. 207,144; both of which are assigned to the parent company of the assignee of the present application. The present application is a continuation in part of our prior co-pending application Ser. No. 315,028 filed Dec. I4, 1972.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The closest prior art with which applicants are familiar is US. Pat. No. 3,085,627; US. Pat. No. 3,477,506; and US. Pat. No. 3,604,732.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable device for performing work on a tubular member.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable device which may be positioned in a tubular member to form protrusions on such tubular member in a desired manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable device which may be positioned in a tubular member for deforming it, for punching holes therein, for cutting the tubular member, and for weakening it in a desired manner to enable it to be pulled apart or separated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced inflatable element having longitudinally and circumferentially extending members adjacent thereto with support means for such members to accommodate movement of the members outwardly as the inflatable element is inflated, and inwardly as the element is deflated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced inflatable element having longitudinally and circumferentially extending members adjacent thereto with support means for such members to accommodate movement of the members outwardly as the inflatable element is inflated, and inwardly as the element is deflated, and resilient means tending to urge such members inwardly and away from engagement with a tubular member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section to illustrate the structural arrangement of the preferred form of the invention described herein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of FIG. 1 to illustrate further structural details;

FIG. 3 illustrates the device of the present invention positioned in a tubular member and having been actuated to form projections on such tubular member, with the tubular member being shown in one-quarter sectional view:

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing the tubular member in full cross-section with the protrusions formed therein by the device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the device of the present invention showing the projection means on the members fully extended for engagement with a tubular member.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate embodiment showing it in retracted and expanded position; and

FIG. 7 is a quarter sectional view showing one form of power means to expand and retract the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein the device of the present invention is referred to generally by the numeral 10. The device 10 includes a reinforced inflatable element referred to generally at 12 having members referred to generally at 13 and 14 extending longitudinally and circumferentially of the reinforced inflatable element 12 with support means for the longitudinally and circumferentially extending members 13 and 14, such support means being referred to generally at 16. The support means 16 accommodates movement of the members 13 and 14 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter as the reinforced inflatable element 12 is inflated and deflated.

The members 14 are shown as provided with a form of projection means referred to generally at 18 for engaging with a tubular member as will be described in greater detail.

The reinforced inflatable element 12 includes annular heads 20 which are shown as being threadedly secured to a packer cap 21 at each end of the reinforced inflatable element. It can be appreciated that only one of such ends is shown and described in detail, but that the opposite end is similar in construction.

One packer cap 21 closes off one end of the packer and the other packer cap 21 is provided with an opening 23 therein as shown in FIG. 1 for connection with a conduit so that inflating fluid may be discharged into the interior of the inflatable element for inflation thereof, and for discharge of fluid from the inflatable element back through the conduit when the element deflates. An inner liner 25 extends longitudinally between the annular heads 20 of the reinforced inflatable element 12, and may be sealed at its ends in any suitable manner such as by the seal ring 26. A reinforcing sheath 28, formed in any suitable manner such as by a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially overlapping strands, or strips, surrounds the inner tube 25 with the ends 29 of the reinforcing being received in each annular head 20.

Suitable anchor means as illustrated at 30 are pro vided for anchoring the ends of the reinforcing 28 to the annular heads 20, and an outer covering 31 may be provided over the reinforcing sheath 28 and extends between the annular heads 20.

First members 13 are adjacent the outer covering 31 and extend longitudinally and circumferentially of such outer cover. As shown in better detail in FIG. 2, the longitudinally extending first members 13 have an inner surface 36 which is of a general contour eonforming with the outer elastomer cover 31. Each member 13, as shown, has two outer surfaces 37 and 38 with the point of juncture 39 of such surfaces being next to Ion gitudinal edges 42 and 43 of adjacent additional longitudinally and circumferentially extending members 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be noted that each first member 13 is arranged so that the outer surfaces 37 and 38 thereof overlap a portion of the inner surfaces 47 and 48 on adjacent additional longitudinally and circumferentially extending members 14 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The additional members 14 are provided with projections 18, with the projections 18 being shown in the form of the invention herein described as being at two spaced longitudinal intervals. In FIG. 2, the projections 18 include that portion extending outwardly from the dotted line referred to at 50, whereas the additional members 14 is that portion on the inside of such dotted line and abutting the members 13 as previously described.

The support means 16 includes an annular member 60 carried on each end of the packer by any suitable means such as the projecting annular ledge 61 formed on annular member 60 resting on the packer cap 21 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The support means 16 also includes the annular housing 62, such annular housing being provided with projections or pins 63 extending inwardly to engage in holes 63a as shown in FIG. 6 in each of the first members 13. It will be noted that the annular housing 62 is provided with suitable openings 64 to receive the projections 18 therethrough.

Pin means 65 are provided for fitting in holes 66 of additional members 14, and the pins 63 as well as the pins 65 provide guide means to accommodate radial movement of the first members 13 and additional members 14 as the reinforced element 12 is inflated and as it is deflated. Such pin means also guides movement of the first members 13 and additional members 14 in a predetermined manner to assure controlled overlap of the members 13 and 14 during operation of the device.

The housing 62 carries pins 63 and pins 65 adjacent each end thereof for engaging the first members 13 and additional members 14 respectively adjacent each end thereof. Similarly, the housing 62 is secured to an annular member 60 adjacent each end and the annular members 60 and each provided with an inwardly projecting ledge 61 to retain inflatable element 12 and its components within housing 62, while accommodating radial movement of the inflatable device as it is expanded. As it expands each end of the inflatable device also is free to move or contract longitudinally relative to housing 62, first members 13 and additional members 14.

For example, attention is directed to FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein the device of the present invention is shown as having been inflated to move the members 13 and 14 outwardly to engage the projections 18 with tubular member T. By reason of the guiding and support arrangement as previously described, the members 13 as well as the members 14 move outwardly due to the expansion of the inflatable element, and the members 13 span the longitudinal and circumferential gap 72 between each of the members 14 as they move outwardly for engaging the projections 18 with the tubular member T. It will be noted that the surfaces 37 and 38 of each first member 13 remain in engagement with at least a portion of the surface 47 and 48 of the adjacent additional members 14 to inhibit extrusion of the elas tomer 31 through such gap 72 or around the first or additional members 13 and 14 respectively in an undesired manner.

The desired amount of force can be applied by the inflating lluid in the inflatable element 12 so that the projection means 18 engage and deform the tubular member T in a desired manner as represented by the protrusions 76 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. After the protrusions have been formed in the tubular member at one location. the inflatable device may be relocated and additional protrusions 76 formed therein as de sired. The inflatable device 10 of the present invention may be positioned in the tubular member by any suitable means such as a cable or the like (not shown) secured to the eye 80.

In FIG. 5 an elevational view of the present invention 'is illustrated showing the outer housing 62 with the openings 64 therein circ umferentially spaced to receive the projections 18 extending therethrough.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 wherein like numerals refer to like parts shown in FIGS. l5. In FIG. 6 support means 16 includes the outer housing 62a which is secured to annular members 60 at each end of the inflatable device 12. The housing 62a comprises two annular portions 62a which extend from the ring 60 with which they are each connected and termi nate in spaced relation to each other as shown at 62b. The annular members 60 are each provided with a ledge 61 to abut packer closure caps 21; however, there may be a slight clearance between ledge 61 and the adjacent cap 21. When the inflatable device 12 is lowered into a tubular member. the upper ledge 61 will rest on the upper cap as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The first members 13, second members 14 and housing portion 62a are thus connected together, with the inflatable device 12 retained therein when the invention 10 is assembled.

FIG. 6 also shows openings 63a in members 13 for slidably receiving therein pins 63 carried on each housing portion 62a to thus accommodate radial sliding or moving of the members 13 as inflatable 12 device is expanded.

The operation and formation of FIG. 6 is similar to that described with regard to FIGS. 1-5.

In FIG. 7, one form of power means to expand and retract inflatable element 12 as shown. A cylinder 80a is provided with a bore 81a having two different diameters 81b and 810, with 8117 being samller in diameter than bore portion 810, as shown in FIG. 7. A pair of pistons 84 and 85 are connected by rod 86 and are provided with seals 87 and 88 to sealingly engage in bore portions 81b and 810 respectively. Cylinder 80a is closed by cap 89 at its lower end, which cap is provided with an opening 90 into which is connected nipple 91. Nipple 91 is threaded for engagement with the threads in opening 23 in the upper cap 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to secure power cylinder 80a and device 10 together.

Eye 95 is secured in upper cap 98 on cylinder 80a and a pairof openings are provided at 96 and 97 in cap 98 as shown in FIG. 7 at the upper end of cylinder 80a. A cable 99 connected to eye 95 is provided to lower cylinder 80a and connected device 10 into casing or tubular member T. A pair of conduits 100 and 101 are connected into openings 96 and 97 respectively of cap 98 and are carried on cable 99. A suitable quantity of hydraulic fluid is initially placed in reservoir 102 formed in cylinder 80 beneath piston 84 so that when the fluid is displaced through the nipple 91 into inflatable element 12 by movement of piston 84, the inflatable element will expand and move 13 and 14 outwardly to engage projections 18 with tubular member T to form protrusions or projections 76 as shown in the lower part of FIG. 6.

When hydraulic fluid is discharged through conduit 101 and into reservoir 104, it will act against piston 85 and force it downwardly in bore 81b whereupon piston 84 forces the hydraulic fluid out of reservoir 84 to expand inflatable element 12. After the projections 76 have been formed in tubular member T, it is desirable to either move the device to, another location in tubular member T or remove it from the tubular member to the earth's surface. This is accomplished by discharging hydraulic fluid fr'om conduit 100 into opening 96 and passage 96a in cylinder 80a which communicates with reservoir 106 formed between pistons 84, 85. Since bore 810 is of a larger diameter than bore 811;, fluid acting in reservoir 106 upwardly against piston 85 and downwardly against piston 84 will cause piston 85 to move upwardly in cylinder 80a. This causes piston 84 to swab or suck fluid from the inflatable element 12 to enable it to better and more positively deflate and retract first members 13 and additional members 14.

Stop means 80d is mounted on cap 98 to limit travel of piston 85, and such stop means may be in the form of an annular ring with openings as at 80e for communicating fluid from opening 97 to piston 85.

It can be appreciated that the present invention has been described in detail as being provided with projection means 18 thereon for forming a plurality of protrusions 76 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings; however, such description is for the purposes of illustration only, as it can be appreciated that the present invention may be employed for perforating the tubular member T as well as shearing it or reducing its strength to a point so that it may be pulled apart.

One use of the present invention is to provide deformations or protrusions on a tubular member T to enable the tubular member to be positioned in the earths surface and aid in retaining the tubular member in position. The protrusions 76 on the tubular member T pro vide frictional engagement between the tubular member and surrounding surface in which it is positioned to aid in retaining in position without the use of cement or other similar material.

The projection means 18 acts as a force concentrating means to distribute the energy in the inflatable element 12 in concentrated areas to form, pierce, or otherwise act on the tubular member T in a desired manner. The housing 62 also acts as a shield to inhibit rupturing of the inflatable element 12 in the event the tubular member T splits.

The inflatable element 12 is self collapsing when the pressure of the inflating fluid is relieved; springs 81 secured to the housing and engaged in seats 81a in members l4 aid in returning members 14 and members 13 to their original position when the element 12 is deflated, as shown in FIG. 2.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an inflatable device for use in a tubular member:

a. spaced annular heads;

b. inflatable means secured between said spaced annular heads; j c. closure means for said heads, one of said closure means having an opening for conducting inflating 5 fluid to said inflatable means; i

d. a plurality of first members positioned adjacent each other circumferentially of said inflatable means and extending longitudinally therealong;

e. additional members overlapping said adjacent first members and extending longitudinally thereof;

f. support means supporting said first and additional members for radial movement while maintaining said additional members in overlapping relation with adjacent first members upon inflation of said inflatable device; and

g. projection means on said additional members ongageable with the tubular member upon inflation of said inflatable means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means includes:

a. an annular housing adjacent each of said heads;

and

b. cooperating means on said housing and said first and additional members for accommodating radial movement of said first and additional members relative to said housing.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said inflatable means comprises:

a. an annular inner resilient liner for receiving an in- 4. The invention of claim 2 including means associated with said housing to abut said heads.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said first members are positioned circumferentially of said inflatable means so that their longitudinal edges are adjacent each other and each includes a pair of outer longitudinally extending surfaces; and

b. said additional members are positioned circumferentially about said first members with each of said 5 additional members engaging one surface of said pair of surfaces on said adjacent first members.

6. The invention of claim 1 including means urging said additional members away from engagement with the tubular member.

7. The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient covering between said sheath and said first members.

8. The members of claim 2 wherein said cooperating means include pin means on said housing and corresponding openings in each said first and additional means for slidably receiving said pin means.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and additional members include outer and inner surface means respectively which abut each other to form a sliding fit so that as said inflatable means expands and moves said first members circumferentially away from each other as they move radially outward, said addi tional members overlap adjacent first members to span the gap therebetween to inhibit extrusion of said inflatable means.

10. The invention of claim 2 including openings in said housing for receiving said projection means therethrough to engage the tubular members.

11. The invention of claim 2 wherein said housing includes housing portions adjacent each head which terminate in spaced relation to each other.

12. The invention of claim 1 including power means to inflate and deflate said inflatable means.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said power means includes:

a. hydraulic cylinder means for securing to said head closure means which has an opening therein. said cylinder forming a hydraulic fluid receiving reservoir;

b. said cylinder having a closure means at each end and having a bore with two different diameters;

c. piston means in each diameter bore which piston means are connected to move together;

d. thercbeing fluid passage means in said cylinder 

1. In an inflatable device for use in a tubular member: a. spaced annular heads; b. inflatable means secured between said spaced annular heads; c. closure means for said heads, one of said closure means having an opening for conducting inflating fluid to said inflatable means; d. a plurality of first members positioned adjacent each other circumferentially of said inflatable means and extending longitudinally therealong; e. additional members overlapping said adjacent first members and extending longitudinally thereof; f. support means supporting said first and additional members for radial movement while maintaining said additional members in overlapping relation with adjacent first members upon inflation of said inflatable device; and g. projection means on said additional members engageable with the tubular member upon inflation of said inflatable means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means includes: a. an annular housing adjacent each of said heads; and b. cooperating means on said housing and said first and additional members for accommodating radial movement of said first and additional members relative to said housing.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said inflatable means comprises: a. an annular inner resilient liner for receiving an inflating medium; b. an expansible reinforcing sheath extending longitudinally of and surrounding said liner; and c. anchor means to secure each end of said sheath in one of said heads;
 4. The invention of claim 2 including means associated with said housing to abut said heads.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said first members are positioned circumferentially of said inflatable means so that their longitudinal edges are adjacent each other and each includes a pair of outer longitudinally extending surfaces; and b. said additional members are positioned circumferentially about said first members with each of said additional members engaging one sUrface of said pair of surfaces on said adjacent first members.
 6. The invention of claim 1 including means urging said additional members away from engagement with the tubular member.
 7. The invention of claim 3 including an outer resilient covering between said sheath and said first members.
 8. The members of claim 2 wherein said cooperating means include pin means on said housing and corresponding openings in each said first and additional means for slidably receiving said pin means.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and additional members include outer and inner surface means respectively which abut each other to form a sliding fit so that as said inflatable means expands and moves said first members circumferentially away from each other as they move radially outward, said additional members overlap adjacent first members to span the gap therebetween to inhibit extrusion of said inflatable means.
 10. The invention of claim 2 including openings in said housing for receiving said projection means therethrough to engage the tubular members.
 11. The invention of claim 2 wherein said housing includes housing portions adjacent each head which terminate in spaced relation to each other.
 12. The invention of claim 1 including power means to inflate and deflate said inflatable means.
 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said power means includes: a. hydraulic cylinder means for securing to said head closure means which has an opening therein, said cylinder forming a hydraulic fluid receiving reservoir; b. said cylinder having a closure means at each end and having a bore with two different diameters; c. piston means in each diameter bore which piston means are connected to move together; d. therebeing fluid passage means in said cylinder means for conducting fluid pressure to move said piston means and discharge fluid from the reservoir into said inflatable means; and e. therebeing fluid passage means in said cylinder means for conducting fluid pressure between said piston means to move said piston means to suck hydraulic fluid from said inflatable means to deflate it.
 14. The invention of claim 1 wherein said projection means forms corrugations in the tubular member.
 15. The invention of claim 6 wherein said urging means comprises spring means abutting said support means and urging said first and additional members radially inward. 